Regents Prep: Global History & Geography: Vocabulary

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Vocabulary Review

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Conflict Vocabulary List

38th Parallel : Line of latitude which divided North and South Korea. Afrikaners : Dutch descended colonist living in South Africa. Also called Boers. Age of Reason : Term given to describe the Enlightenment. Age of Transition : Term given to describe the Renaissance. Amin, Idi : (1925?- ) President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. His brutal regime resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands of people, as well as the near total ruin of Uganda. He was overthrown and exiled to Saudi Arabia in 1979. anti-Semitism : The hatred of people of Jewish descent. appeasement : The policy of pacifying an aggressive nation in the hopes of avoiding further conflict. armistice : A truce during wartime. Batista, Fulgencio : (1901-1973) Cuban president from 1940 to 1944 and 1952 to 1959. He was responsible for some reforms in the country before leaving office for the first time. Later, he overthrew the legitimate government and ruled as a dictator until he was forced from office by Fidel Castro. Battle of Britain : The massive air war against Great Britain by the Nazi war machine in Germany. Nearly nightly bombings occurred between summer of 1940 and summer of 1941 before German withdrew. Great Britain fought alone during this year and never gave up. Bay of Pigs : An unsuccessful invasion of Cuba in 1961, which was sponsored by the United States. Its purpose was to overthrow Cuban dictator Fidel Castro. Berlin Airlift : A re-supply operation to the city of Berlin that lasted 11 months during 1948-49 when the Soviet Union attempted to close off the city. Berlin Wall : A wall built in 1961 dividing Soviet controlled East Berlin from the democratic West Berlin. It was destroyed when communism ended in 1990. Black Hand : Serbian nationalist/terrorist group responsible for the assassination of Austrian Archduke Franz Ferdinand which resulted in the start of World War I. blitzkrieg : German word meaning lightning war. It was a German army tactic during World War II which called for quick moving, hard hitting drives into enemy territory. Bonaparte, Napoleon : (1769-1821) Emperor of the French. Responsible for many French Revolution reforms as well as conquering most of Europe. He was defeated at Waterloo, and died several years later on the island of Saint Helena. Brezhnev, Leonid : (1906-1982) Leader of the Soviet Union from 1964 to 1982. During his control of the Soviet Union, relations with the West, as well as the Soviet economy, experienced a long period of stagnation. Calvin, John : (1509-1564) Theologian and church reformer who developed a form of Protestantism during the Reformation. His church is known for the idea of predestination, which states certain people are predestined for heaven. Chamberlain, Neville : (1869-1940) Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1937 to 1940. He is responsible for the policy of appeasement with Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany. Christianity : Currently the most popular religion in the world based on the number of worshippers found throughout the world. While this monotheistic religion developed from Judaism, there are several key differences in its teachings. Christianity was founded by Jesus Christ in the 1st century CE. The Christian holy book is called the Holy Bible. Churchill, Sir Winston : (1874-1965) British politician and Prime Minster of Great Britain from 1940 to 1945, and 1951 to 1955. He is regarded as the finest British leader of the 20th century and was instrumental in leading Britain to victory during World War II. Clemenceau, Georges : (1841-1929) French Premier during World War I. He was one of the formulators of the Treaty of Versailles. Commonwealth of Independent States : Nation created after the breakup of the Soviet Union. It includes Russia and several smaller former Soviet republics. communism : A system of government in which a single, totalitarian, party holds power. It is characterized by state control of the economy, and restriction on personal freedoms. It was first proposed by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in The Communist Manifesto. Confucianism : Confucius lived in China during the Chou Dynasty, when there was mass disorder and confusion and degrading moral standards. Confucius was appalled by what appeared to be the fracturing of Chinese society. He believed that the only cure was to stress a sense of social order and mutual respect, a philosophy that later became known as Confucianism. Confucianism teaches that there is a natural social order to society which can best be explained through the Five Relationships. conquistadors : Spanish conquerors who came to the New World in search of gold and other riches. containment : A cold war policy that called for containing communism to areas already under its influence. This policy was proposed by U.S. President Harry Truman. Counter-Reformation : The movement initiated by the Catholic Church to contain the Protestant Reformation and, if possible, end it. coup d etat : The acting of overthrowing a government in favor of another, usually through violent means. Cromwell, Oliver : (1599-1658) Leader of the English Revolution that deposed the Stuart monarchs in favor of a short lived Republic. Cromwell acted as Lord Protector until the restoration of the Monarchy in 1660. Cuban Missile Crisis : (1961) Crises that developed as a result of Cuban dictator Fidel Castro’s decision to allow the Soviet Union to base nuclear missiles in Cuba. Upon discovery, the United States confronted the Soviet Union and demanded the missiles be removed. For nearly two weeks, nuclear war was imminent. Fortunately, diplomacy succeeded and crisis was averted. Cultural Revolution : (1966-1976) Political policy in started in China by Mao Zedong to eliminate his rivals and train a new generation in the revolutionary spirit that created communist China. The Cultural Revolution resulted in beatings, terror, mass jailings, and the deaths of thousands. de Santa Anna, Antonio López : (1794-1876) Mexican general and dictator who controlled Mexico for more than 25 years. Lost war against the United States which cost Mexico present day California, Nevada, and New Mexico. Declaration of the Rights of Man : Revolutionary document of the French Revolution. Written in 1789, it spelled out certain rights believed to be universal to all mankind. Patterned on the American Declaration of Independence. détente : A policy during the Cold War which was aimed at relaxing tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union. The policy calls for increase diplomatic and commercial activity. divine right : The justification of monarchy through the word of God. domino theory : The idea that countries bordering communist countries were in more danger of falling to communism unless the United States and other western nations worked to prevent it. Duma : Name of the Russia Parliament. encomienda system : A system of production in Spain’s New World possessions which granted permission to conquistadors to enslave as many people needed to work a plantation. Engels, Friedrich : (1820-1895) German socialist and co-author of The Communist Manifesto. English Bill of Rights : (1689) A Bill of Rights written after the Glorious Revolution of 1688 which placed William and Mary on the throne of England. The bill created a limited monarchy and established Parliament as the ruling body of the nation. escalate : To increase. Estates : Class system in France before the French Revolution. There were three Estates, First Estate was Clergy, Second was Nobility, and Third was peasants, merchants, and townspeople. Ferdinand, Franz : (1863-1914) Archduke of Austria, nephew to the Emperor. He was assainated by Gavrilo Princip in Sarajevo, Bosnia in 1914. This resulted in the start of World War I. Fourteen Points Speech : An address given to the United States’ Congress by President Woodrow Wilson concerning the end of World War I and the treatment of all concerned with the war. The speech outlines the League of Nations and the ideas of self determination for different ethnic groups. Frederick the Great : (1712-1786), King of Prussia from 1740 to 1786. Enlightened despot who enlarged Prussia by gaining land from Austria when Maria Theresa became Empress. Glasnost : A policy of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev which called for more openness with the nations of West, and a relaxing of restraints on Soviet citizenry. Gorbachev, Mikhail : (1931- ), leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991. His policies of Perestroika and Glasnost, which aimed at revitalizing the Soviet Union contributed to the downfall of communism. Great Purge : The widespread arrests and executions of over a million people by Josef Stalin between 1936 and 1938. Stalin was attempting to eliminate all opposition to his rule of the Soviet Union. Green Revolution : Throughout the 20th century, scientists worked on improving agriculture, especially in areas with high populations. Some of the technologies developed included better irrigation systems so farmers could get water to their crops. New machinery was built to handle larger production and to take the burden of agriculture work off of humans. New chemical fertilizers and pesticides were created to increase food production, and new varieties of grains and livestock were developed also for greater production. The Green Revolution has had only limited success. The high costs associated with many of these new technologies have kept the small farmer from taking advantage of them. Hinduism : A polytheistic religion that was formed from a variety of different religious practices. In Hinduism, salvation is achieved through a spiritual oneness of the soul, atman, with the ultimate reality of the universe, Brahma. To achieve this goal, the soul must obtain moksha, or liberation from the samsara, the endless cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. As a result of these basic teachings, Hindus believe in reincarnation, which is influenced by karma (material actions resulting from the consequences of previous actions), and dharma (fulfilling one's duty in life). Because all forms of animal life possess souls, Hindus believe in ahimsa, or that all life is sacred. and should not be harmed. In fact, one animal which Hindus consider to be extremely sacred is the cow. The peaceful and contented existence of cows is considered virtuous by Hindus and would represent a rewarding reincarnation for a soul. For this reason, most Hindus are vegetarians so that they do not harm other living beings. The belief in reincarnation, karma, and dharma also provides the religious justification for the existence of the rigid social structure known as the Caste System. Hiroshima : Japanese city devastated during World War II when the United States dropped the first atomic bomb on Aug 6th, 1945. Holy Land : Term given to lands in present day Israel that is significant to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Hussein, Saddam : (1937- ) President of Iraq since 1979. He has led his control into two devastating wars, one against Iran in 1980 to 1988, and the Persian Gulf War in 1990 – 1991 which started as a result of his invading Kuwait. ideology : An organized system of beliefs, values, and ideas. They form the basis of a political, social, and economic philosophy. Iron Curtain : A term popularized by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill to describe the Soviet Union’s policy of isolation during the Cold War. The Iron Curtain isolated Eastern Europe from the rest of the world. Its most poignant symbol was the Berlin Wall. Juárez, Benito : (1806-72) President of Mexico from 1861 to 1863 and 1867 to 1872. He was responsible for many reforms including reducing the power of the Catholic Church. Judaism : Judaism is the oldest known monotheistic religion still practiced in the world today. Its fundamental teachings have been influential and are the basis for more recently developed religions such as Christianity and Islam. Judaism teaches that there is one God who is the creator of all things. after the Hebrew exodus from Egypt, many Hebrews began to lose their faith in God. During this time, Moses went atop Mount Sinai and returned with two stone tablets containing laws that all Hebrews needed to follow. These laws, recorded in the Exodus 20:3-17, became known as the Ten Commandments. Kellogg-Briand Pact : A treaty signed in 1928 renouncing war as a means of solving international disputes. Khrushchev, Nikita : (1894-1971) Leader of the Soviet Union from 1953 to 1964. Khrushchev was critical of Stalin’s policies and attempted to reverse some of them. He is responsible for placing nuclear missiles in Cuba which resulted in the Cuban Missile Crisis. Korean War : A war between North Korean, which was supported by both the Soviet Union and communist China, and South Korea, which was supported by the United States and the United Nations. The war occurred between 1950 and 1953 and ended in an armistice and original borders. Kristallnacht : On November 9th, 1938, Nazis in German looted, and burned Jewish stores and Synagogues, often beating Jews in the street. Over 90 Jews were killed during Kristallnacht. Also called Night of Broken Glass. line of demarcation : A boundary established by Pope Alexander VI on in 1493 to define the spheres of Spanish and Portuguese possessions in the New World. Part of the Treaty of Tordesillas. Little Red Book : A book circulated throughout China during the reign of Mao Zedong, which contained his political philosophy for China. It was required reading in all schools. Lloyd George, David : (1863-1945) British Prime Minister from 1916 to 1922, he led Great Britain through World War I. He was one of the formulators of the Treaty of Versailles. Luther, Martin : (1483-1546) Theologian and religious reformer who started the Reformation with his 95 Theses which protested church corruption, namely the sale of indulgences. Nagasaki : Japanese city devastated during World War II when the United States dropped the second atomic bomb on Aug 8th, 1945. Nasser, Gamal Abdel : (1918-1970) President of Egypt from 1956 to 1970. He was the most influential leader of the Arab world during his lifetime. He supported the idea of Pan Arabism, where all Arab nations should unite. Also supported the Soviet Union during the Cold War. nation-state : An independent state or country. Nazi : Name of German National Socialist Party, which gained control of Germany in 1933 under the leadership of Adolf Hitler. Nehru, Jawaharlal : (1889-1964) Indian nationalist leader and the first prime minister of independent India from 1947 to 1964. Along with Mohandas Gandhi, he was instrumental in freeing India from Britain’s control. Nuremburg Trials : War crime trials held in Nuremburg after World War II to try the surviving Nazis concerning the Holocaust, aggressive war making, mistreatment of prisoners among other things. Oligarchy : A political system in which the government is under the control of the merchant class. Orlando, Vittorio : (1860-1952) Prime Minister of Italy during World War I. He was one of the formulators of the Treaty of Versailles. Perestroika : A policy of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to revitalize the Soviet economy by opening it up to more free enterprise. Persian Gulf War : (1990 – 1991) Conflict between Iraq and a coalition of countries led by the United States to remove Iraqi forces from Kuwait which they had invaded in hopes of controlling their oil supply. A very one sided war with the United States’ coalition emerging victorious. Princip, Gavrilo : (1894 -1918) Serbian nationalist/terrorist who assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife in 1914. This event resulted in the start of World War I. Protestant : Member of Christian relgious sect which formed during the Protestant Reformation. Protestants reject the authority of the Roman Catholic Church. Puritan Revolution : Political and Religious revolution in England between 1640 and 1660. The monarchy was abolished in favor of a Republic led by Oliver Cromwell. It ended with the seating of Charles II on the throne. Also known as the English Revolution. Puritanism : Movement in the English church in the late 16th to remove all catholic influences and purify. Rasputin, Grigory : (1872-1916) Russian peasant and self-proclaimed holy man. He was friends with the ruling Romanov family, and sometime advisor to Czarina Alexandra. His advice was on of the factors leading to the Russian Revolution. Red Guard : Militaristic group of students in China who brutalized anyone who criticized Mao’s government. religion : A person's beliefs concerning the existence and worship of a god or gods, and divine involvement in the universe and human life. reparations : Monetary compensation to correct something that was done wrong. Russo-Japanese War : (1904-1905) War between Russia and Japan over imperial possessions. Japan emerges victorious. socialism : A political system where the means of production are controlled by the workers and all things are shared evenly. Socialist policies provide for government funding of many basic needs such as food, shelter, and medical care. Solidarity : An independent Polish labor Union which fought against communism in Poland in the 1980s. Most notable for helping to end communism in Poland and throughout Eastern Europe. stalemate : A situation where there are no clear winners. Tiananmen Square Massacre : A political and social protest by university students in Beijing, China in 1989. The protest called for political and social reforms and resulted in the government using the military to end it, which caused hundreds of deaths, thousands of injured, and many more imprisoned. totalitarianism : An ideology where all social, economic, and political powers are centered in the government completely. Treaty of Tordesillas : A treaty dividing the New World possessions between Portugal and Spain. This treaty, signed in 1494 was a product of the Catholic Church. trench warfare : A form of combat where armies fight each other from opposing fortified positions, usually consisting of long, dugout holes or trenches. Triple Alliance : An alliance that was made up of Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy during World War I. Triple Entente : An alliance that was made up of France, Russia, and Great Britain during World War I. Truman Doctrine : A policy if the Truman presidency that called for supporting any nation resisting communism. Viet Cong : The name of the Vietnamese communist who fought against South Vietnam and the United States during the Vietnam War. Walesa, Lech : (1943- ) Polish labor union leader, Nobel laureate, and President of Poland from 1990 to 1995. He was instrumental in the collapse of communism in Poland and throughout Eastern Europe through the work of the labor union Solidarity. William and Mary : King and Queen of England from 1689 to 1702. They were placed on the throne as a result of the Glorious Revolution of 1688, and ruled as limited monarchs. Wilson, Woodrow : (1856-1924) President of the United States during World War I. He was one of the formulators of the Treaty of Versailles. He also proposed a regulating body of nations to avoid future conflicts through diplomacy in his 14 Points Speech. Yeltsin, Boris : (1931- ) President of Russia. He was elected before the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. He served until 1999. Yeltsin was instrumental in keeping a cout d’etat from occurring which would have returned hard line communists to power in Russia.